Pope Leo XIV told thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday that he would gradually resume his duties after surgery to remove a malignant lung tumor.
Appearing at a window overlooking the square, Leo thanked the faithful for their prayers during his hospitalization. He said, “Now that this delicate phase is behind me, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God's help and your prayers.” PBS reported that the lower lobe of his right lung was removed four days earlier.
A week earlier, Leo had said a nodule had been found on his lung and would be removed surgically, according to the Washington Examiner. Deutsche Welle reported that his surgeon said there was no clinical reason his planned South America trip could not proceed.